The Hindu : National / Elections 2004 : CANDIDATE WATCH

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Wednesday, Apr 14, 2004

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National - Elections 2004

CANDIDATE WATCH

Daggubati Purandareswari, Congress candidate, Bapatla Lok Sabha seat

She is suave, affable and appears meticulous. She is not the run-of-the-mill rabble-rouser but commands a lot of support from the masses, thanks to her enormous communication abilities — both in Telugu and English.

Daggubati Purandareswari, second daughter of the Telugu Desam Party founder, the late N.T.Rama Rao, is the latest sensation in Andhra Pradesh politics. She came like the proverbial bolt from the blue and secured the Congress ticket for the Bapatla Lok Sabha constituency. She is no novice either, having learnt the art of politics for over two decades from her father and husband, Daggubati Venkateswara Rao, albeit from behind the scenes.

What is the response from her family about her entering politics and contesting against the TDP? "I have informed all my brothers and sisters, including Bhuvaneswari [wife of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu], and the response was not negative. I wanted their blessings and I have them." There were no differences in the family over her contesting as a Congress candidate as "they are mature enough to draw a line between family and politics."

Asked if she believed in the charge that Mr. Naidu has amassed a lot of wealth, she says: "You should have posed this question to him." To a question on similar allegations made by her late father, she says: "My dad must have had evidence for whatever he said. But I don't have any."

Ms. Purandareswari, however, admits that she too subscribes to the views expressed by her father in a cassette, `Jaamaathaa Dasama Grahaha' which he released after he was dethroned from power by Mr. Naidu, his younger son-in-law. The cassette contains speeches of NTR pouring scorn on Mr. Naidu.

Has she delayed her entry into politics? Ms. Purandeswari says she decided to take the plunge now as her children are old enough to take care of themselves.

Ms. Purandareswari, who felt bad when her husband joined hands with Mr. Naidu against her "gullible dad," says she disapproved of her husband's actions. "Many thought that I provoked my husband to join hands with Mr. Naidu. But it is incorrect. I can only discuss the matters politely, but firmly with my husband. But, I can't thrust my views and influence his decisions," she points out out.

Her campaign style — explaining to the people about the "digression" of the ideals championed by her father by the present leadership — is being popular.

Though pitted against a formidable rival in the TDP's Daggubati Rama Naidu, a close relative, Ms. Purandareswari does not see any reason for not winning the election. "The campaigning is hectic but encouraging. After all, when somebody is contesting the elections they wouldn't like to lose."

Attacking the Chandrababu Naidu Government, she claims that farmers and other poorer sections have been neglected. "N.T. Rama Rao always used to have these sections in his mind and he lent his shoulders whenever they cried for help. But what is happening today?" Asked about the failure of her brothers, N. Jayakrishna and N. Harikrishna, to make any impact on the voters earlier, she says: "Do you think I will also end up as a failure?"

How have the voters taken to the daughter of NTR, a staunch anti-Congressman, contesting on the Congress ticket? "Do you think N.T. Rama Rao would have asked the people to vote for this Government had he been alive?"

— M. Rajeev

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